Question

• What do you think is the most controversial ethical issue of our time? Why?
• What do you think will be the most controversial ethical issue in 50 years from now? Why?
• Do you think the ethical principles and theories we’ve learned in this class will still apply to assist in ethical decision-making? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The most controversial ethical issue of our time is: should we make use of the stem cells obtained from human embryos to treat degenerative disease such as Parkinson’s diabetes etc. This issue is most controversial as this tool of molecular biology has developed currently and has the potential to be used in the treatment of degenerative diseases, but the world is divided as far as the usage of this technology between the people who have a prolife stance i.e. who oppose the usage of human embryos and the other group who does not oppose the usage of human embryos for medical treatment.

The most controversial ethical issue in 50 years from now will be: approving or not approving the editing of the genes of the babies i.e. having designer babies. As the technology for developing designer babies is evolving and the world is divided over its usage.

The ethical principles and theories we’ve learned in this class will still apply to assist in ethical decision-making because ethics is universal as thus the ethical principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence will hold good for all times.

Reference:

What are the Basic Principles of
Medical Ethics? 2020, https://web.stanford.edu/class/siw198q/websites/reprotech/New%20Ways%20of%20Making%20Babies/EthicVoc.htm#:~:text=Ideally%2C%20for%20a%20medical%20practice,beneficence%2C%20and%20non%2Dmaleficence.